Proverbs 6:1–23
6 My son, aif you become 1surety for your friend,
If you have 2shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
2 You are snared by the words of your mouth;
You are taken by the words of your mouth.
3 So do this, my son, and deliver yourself;
For you have come into the hand of your friend:
Go and humble yourself;
Plead with your friend.
4 bGive no sleep to your eyes,
Nor slumber to your eyelids.
5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
And like a bird from the hand of the 3fowler.
6 cGo to the ant, you sluggard!
Consider her ways and be wise,
7 Which, having no 4captain,
Overseer or ruler,
8 Provides her 5supplies in the summer,
And gathers her food in the harvest.
9 dHow long will you 6slumber, O sluggard?
When will you rise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to sleep—
11 eSo shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man.
12 A worthless person, a wicked man,
Walks with a perverse mouth;
13 fHe winks with his eyes,
He 7shuffles his feet,
He points with his fingers;
14 Perversity is in his heart,
gHe devises evil continually,
hHe sows discord.
15 Therefore his calamity shall come isuddenly;
Suddenly he shall jbe broken kwithout remedy.
16 These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to 8Him:
mA lying tongue,
nHands that shed innocent blood,
18 oA heart that devises wicked plans,
pFeet that are swift in running to evil,
19 qA false witness who speaks lies,
And one who rsows discord among brethren.
20 sMy son, keep your father’s command,
And do not forsake the law of your mother.
21 tBind them continually upon your heart;
Tie them around your neck.
22 uWhen you roam, 1they will lead you;
When you sleep, vthey will keep you;
And when you awake, they will speak with you.
23 wFor the commandment is a lamp,
And the law a light;
Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,